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Wednesday, August 2, 2017

What's Up, Wednesday?

Just a little of this and that going on this week.  Here's what.


Dinner and music - a night out for us to eat dinner and see our favorite band, joined by our neighbors.



A cosplay event at Barnes and Noble for the girl and her friend - she inherited my Fan Girl tendencies.  She's in the middle with the black wig.



Some special flowers at the Farmer's Market - these were my grandmother's favorites.  Her birthday was in July and I used to send them to her every year.  These have been blooming on my table all week.


A little classroom work - You might as well put the whole crew to work when you can.  It's coming together. Some Before, During, and After pics for your perusal.

BEFORE



DURING




AFTER


Still some work to be done, but we'll get there!

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

July Reading Receipt

Much productivity in the "Getting The Books Read" department this month.  Here's what I read in July:

(Also related: I am loving my new letter board and letter kit.)

#1 Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
This was a BOTM selection awhile back, but I passed on it for something else even though I thought the synopsis was intriguing.  Parts of a giant robot are found all over the world.  Who buried them there 6000 years ago and why? It was later on Super Sale for Kindle, so I grabbed it then.  I'm not a blanket sci-fi lover, but if there's a good story with likable characters I enjoy it regardless of genre.   This is told in transcripts of interviews and reports.  Strangely, my favorite character was the interviewer who wasn't really a part of the action for most of the story.  I'm pretty sure this is the first in a series.  I'll be reading the next one, so that should tell you something right there.



#2 In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
After finishing The Woman in Cabin 10 ( a BOTM selection I did go for), I realized that I'd had another of her books around for months.  I liked this one even better than Cabin 10.  I'll also be adding Ware's newest book onto my BOTM selection this month.


#3 Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica
I went on the waiting list for this at the library before it was even published, so I got it pretty quick when it did finally come out this month.  I've liked all of Kubica's books, but this one is my favorite so far.  I appreciate that she can evoke tension without any fantastical plot twists.  You're on the edge of your seat without feeling like she's trying to pull a fast one on you.  When you find out all the answers in Kubica thriller, the explanations are very human.  I appreciate that more than anything.


#4 Final Girls by Riley Sager
BOTM last month and to wit, I felt like this author (Riley Sager is the pen name of a previously published unnamed author) did pull a fast one on me - a cheap, fast one to be exact. This story had me for a bit, then completely lost me with what I felt was a contrived twist. When it's just for shock value, I feel like I've been conned.



#5 The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
I will say this deals with the very controversial subject of a racially motivated shooting by the police.  Did it make me uncomfortable? Yes.  Did I agree with everything in it? No.  Did I agree with some of it?  Yes.  Did it I think about it when I wasn't reading it and after I was finished with it?  Oh, hell yes.  And isn't that what great writing is supposed to do?  Subject matter aside for a second, this author brought characters to life who jumped off the page for me in a story that grabs you by the lapels and doesn't let go.  And the dialogue was the best I've read in some time.  She's very talented and has a long promising career ahead of her.  Read it.


One last thing - this month we went on vacation in Wisconsin and made a stop at Boswell Book Company.  They slipped this bookmark in with my purchase. I love it very much.